Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unbest, -beist, -beast, n. Also: um-, wnbeist. [ME vnbeste (Cursor M.); Beste n. Also, as onbeast, in the later dial.] A wild animal, savage beast; (an instance of) vermin. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 502.
Pytuisly the prince can pray That thai hyr kest nocht in the se Met til vnbestis [L. belluis] to be 1533 Boece 65b.
Vicis incressing with age … he grewe in fellony like ane cruell vnmercifull vnbeist 1533 Boece 109b.
In Orknay was nowder wolf, fox, taid, serpent nor vthir noysum vnbeist 1629 Boyd Last B. (1629) 17.
What are barnes of corne … a nest for myce and rattons. Would yee desire to liue for to enjoye the leauings of vnbeasts? 1629 Justiciary Cases I 134.
Sindrie tymes in steid of milk ky will geve bluid aither be unskilfulnes of the milker pairtlie gif the udder be bittin uith ane unbeist

b. In pejorative or jocular use, of human beings. 1460 Hay Alex. 10717.
A land … Quhare beistlike men livit vnhonestlie … full farrand and ill schappin of make … Thay war nakit and sum-thing routh of hare In cavis but howis vmbeistis [pr. vnbeistis] as thai war a1605 Montg. Flyt. 258 (T).
Bot this bargane, vnbeist [H. wnbeist] deir sall thow by it